Modern AEG users, how are you finding your machines?

[eriksp]

New to the forum here, so hey guys!

I recently bought myself a new 7000 series AEG after my former Miele Softtronic W 1716 started acting up and I was able to sell it on to a guy who refurbishes machines for a decent price. I know the old adage here is that new machines are worse than old ones, and AEG has seen its fair share of critique, but if any of you are using newer AEG machines, do you find them to be satisfactory?

My Miele "only" lasted about 8 years (before starting to need repairs that is, it didn't die to its credit), which I think is a little short and about on par with the lifetimes of my mother's cheap-esque machines from my childhood. Norwegian law mandates that the vendor is responsible for repairing or replacing any failure of the machine in the 5 years following purchase (unless caused by user error or ´excessive use´), so I felt comfortable going for AEG despite not being the reliability champs they once were.

AEG has always been where my mind has gone when I think of washing machines, as that's what both my grandmothers had and used - one with a Lavamat front-loader and another with a Turnamat semi automatic top-loader. So I decided it was finally time to give AEG a proper chance in the modern era, and so far I've been pretty happy. It looks really good, and I'm very pleased with the washing (and rinsing once you enable a permanent extra rinse) performance. The washing cycles are very long, of course, compared to my older Miele (by a factor of 2 in many cases), but clothes do also come out without stains (stains that would have needed pretreating before going in the Miele). It also spins slightly better, despite both being 1600 rpm - I attribute this to the significantly larger drum. My one point of contention is the stability of spins - the Miele was a complete champ here and basically spun regardless of how unstable the contents might be. The AEG spends a lot more time balancing, and didn't spin my duvet at all - before I added some clean towels to help it balance that is. I suspect it is the larger drum that is responsible for this too, as I've seen this complaint repeated for many of the Mieles with larger drums as well. But, it is something I can definitely learn to live with and adapt to.

Nice to meet you all, and happy to be part of the forum!

 

[mrboilwash]

First of all a warm welcome to the forum!

I`ve had an AEG Lavamat from the late 1980`s and another one from the early 2000`s which was still made in Germany back then but certainly wasn`t based on AEG technology or components anymore.
I should have been alarmed about the fact that the new one was only half the price tag of the old one and it looked and felt entirely different.

I was still used to my old AEG so I didn`t like the new one and soon replaced it with the Miele that I still have today.

I think the modern AEGs aren`t bad at all if you know what you get.
Today I consider them TOL Zanussis and those have always been fairly decent washers at a good price. Just wouldn`t compare them to the AEGs of old.

 

[henene4]

My grandma had 2 AEGs in a row now, always the BOL 7kg 1600rpm ones.

Always decent performance for a great price.
Only downside were the cycle times - but the double time saver or time manager respectively are there anyways.

I still like AEGs dryers a lot.
Not terribly good quality, but incredibly gentle and the 3 lifters in combination with the bedding cycle are unbeaten in the current household dryer space.

 

[eriksp]

Thanks for the welcome!

There is no doubt that the shrinking price tag of appliances relative to wages certainly isn't only due to optimizations in manufacturing and supply lines, but also due to a reduction in the quality of parts - not to get all political, but I feel like this is never going to change until new items are taxed sufficiently so as to making repairs viable. The cost of having my Miele serviced instead of selling it on to a refurbisher would have been approx. the same as I paid for the machine, and as long as that is the case, right to repair and such just isn't that interesting to me - at least in a very high cost country like Norway.

I was pleasantly surprised by the weight and feel of the new AEG - it wasn't as heavy as the Miele, which damn near gave me a herniated disc, but it was certainly a lot heavier than the bottom of the barrel Indesit the Miele replaced years ago. Despite lots of plastics, it feels (maybe deceptively?) sturdy.

After having programmed my Miele's Water Plus button to provide a higher water level and an extra rinse at the same time, I had concerns when I saw there was no way to raise the water level for the AEG. I am now sold on the super low water level washes of newer machines after having seen the results - the added time really does make up for it! I definitely feel like an extra rinse is needed though, but I felt that way with my Miele too, even with the higher water level. I've also really grown to like the new EU standard ECO 40-60 cycle, as it's made me comfortable washing colored items I would've washed on 60 in the Miele on a lower temperature, allowing me to combine my regular clothes with colored towels, etc. I still save up a separate pile of heavy duty whites for an occasional boil wash though, both for the sake of the machine and the pristine whites that a boil wash produces.

After reading a Norwegian book published by a laundry researcher (yes, really!) I've finally let go of the "but it must be sanitized!" feeling I had about underwear and towels, and I instead focus on environmentally friendly washing as well as washing to care for my machine, and obviously to get the visual results I want - as well as clean smelling laundry of course!

 

[launderess]

Have two: AEG-Lavamat 8840 and Electrolux/AEG Lavamat toplader 46200

Can say comparing either to my Miele is bit of strech, but AEG at least since OKO days past never was in same league IIRC.

Miele washers then and still today (though perhaps to lesser degree) are designed to withstand OOB spins so some extent. Miele washers seem to have a wider tolerance for OOB loads than other washers including AEG.

OTOH AEG like most other washers today are simply designed to avoid spinning all but slightly OOB loads (as determined by programming). If there is too much swaying of tub machine will stop, redistribute, and try again.... This and or lower spin speed seems to be selected. This is all fine and well one supposes if purpose is to help "save" washer.

Compared to 88840 my newer AEG toplader has cycle times that drive one mad. If one tops of normal cottons cycle with "sensitive" option along with "Rinse plus" we're talking about a wash cycle over nearly three hours long. Who has got that kind of time?

Over time have watched and learned much about using "time saver" option on AEG washers. Yes, it will reduce wash time, but also rinsing and some other bits are shortened as well.

Find if just let washer use normal cycle or perhaps only pressing time saver button once, washing and certainly rinsing results are better. The latter often makes using "extra rinse" option not necessary.

 

[henene4]

Miele has way more OOB tolerance, yes.

However moder AEGs have very good distribution algorithms.
My grandmas AEG spins even quite difficult loads quite quickly with little fuzz.

The time saver options are described as follows:
One press is "short" or "daily" for full loads of normal to light soils.
Second press is super short for half loads of normal to light soils.

On time manager models, you have (or used to have) either 4 or 8 time selections.
All but the shortest were for full loads.
My grandmas current machine is one of the few AEGs with a time manager. Hers has 4 levels and all but the shortest one run a full rinse and spin pattern.

 

[eriksp]

I actually really don't mind long cycle times as long as the clothes are cleaned well, and energy and water consumption are kept at a minimum. If the clothes really aren't stained or very dirty at all, I don't mind giving Time saver a press to significantly cut down on time - even a double press is okay if the load is small and not stained. I generally can't stand the Express programs because they don't rinse well enough to my liking, though my old Miele did okay in that regard because you could add an extra rinse even to the 30 minute program.

Apart from my (very heavy when wet) large down duvet, I've been happy with the balancing and spinning performance of the AEG - it spends a lot of time balancing compared to my Miele, but apart from the duvet (which honestly didn't even get properly washed in the Miele because it is so big) the performance had been excellent, and as I've said, I'm not pressed for time at all. I agree that the algorithms for balancing in the AEG seem very good, and it does feel reassuring to know that the wear and tear on the machine is kept in check even if it does take some extra time.

The granular control for time management on grandma's machine does sound like a dream though!

 

[henene4]

Electrolux branding

Even current Electrolux branded household washers have the full time manager controlls and unfortunately, they aren't available in many countries.

They give you 8 levels of selections.
No idea why that is such a rare feature, it really sets these apart.

 

[eriksp]

That's interesting! Electrolux branded washers are available here, but they are more expensive than feature equivalent AEG ones. I didn't know that their system for time savings was so granular, though!

 

[stricklybojack]

.
Hello, I just joined the AEG club…I hope it works out.
I just ordered a scratch and dent example of this model.
Please lmk what I have to look forward to, thx.

https://www.aeg.co.uk/laundry/laundry/washing-machines/front-loader-washing-machine/l7fee845r/

 

[eriksp]

That is basically exactly the same model as mine, but with 1400 rpm instead of 1600 rpm. You can expect a washer that is very, very quiet in operation - only sound is clothes sloshing about, really, and the spin is quiet too - and a very thorough clean. The cycles are long, especially if you're used to American machines, but patience is a virtue, isn't it? You can cut down on them with the Time save button - once, if you're washing a full load and twice if you're doing half a load, if your clothes aren't very visibly soiled. If you'd like a permanent extra rinse, the manual will tell you how to enable it. The steam function is really good for getting (close to) wrinkle free shirts and the like - if you're not too fussy, as I am not, it completely negates the need for ironing. The Eco 40-60 program is really good for most washes - its purpose is to enable you to wash clothes that you previously would have separated into 40 and 60 degree loads as a single load, filling up the machine. It does a stellar job, but remember to do a hot (preferably a 90 degree one) maintenance wash once in a while if you only use that program, as the wash temperature is "only" 38 degrees per the manual. I just save up my heavy duty whites for a 90 degree cycle to ensure a clean, mean machine.

Congrats, and happy washing!

 

[ozzie908]

OK people I have to ask.....

All this talk about time management etc as we are aware modern washers need longer to get good results as such they all have a wait facility so why not tell the machine to come on overnight as they are all quiet in operation these days it makes sense to use the long cycles when your not waiting for it to finish surely ?????

Austin

 

[henene4]

Good time management is still a nice to have.
My machine is right next to my bedroom, even if it is very quiet, it's not that quiet.

And further more, you don't want such an extensive main wash all the time.
Having the option to do both is great none the less.

 

[launderess]

Delay Start

Some models of AEG/Electrolux Lavamat machines do offer delay start function.

You can see button "Delay Start" at right on control panel for machine in video.



My Lavamat 88840 "Update" has this function, but the toplader does not.

Cool thing is by pressing "Pre-wash" in conjunction with "delay timer" and you get soaking periods instead.

New To Me AEG Lavamat and Lavatherm

Big Bertha is getting some new German cousins. Anyone following my trails with Big Bertha (Miele w1070) knows the girl is getting on and perhaps should have some of her workload reduced. That am getting that tired of MieleUSA's attitude about repairs and or parts for the old girl. Just had the...

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[eriksp]

I agree that the delay start function is wonderful! An Eco 60 degree wash with an extra rinse clocks in at 5 hours 51 minutes, so I love to load the machine and have it be done exactly when I get up - which honestly doesn't mean delaying the start by more than two hours with that kind of cycle time, haha.

 

[rolls_rapide]

"delay start function is wonderful"

Up to a point.

I once had an AEG 1600rpm, new from 1998. This was the era of the programme knob on the left-hand side, dispenser drawer on the right-hand side.

I used to run the machine on delay start, from 6am-7:30am or thereabouts, to take advantage of cheaper electricity. Spinning was awkward, as sometimes it would just leap into spin. It did that once - and managed to score the door glass with the spinning drum. The whole machine used to shift in the floor-space footprint, on spin.

One morning, when it was three years old, it was in the spin cycle. I opened the kitchen door to be greeted by a hot metallic smell, and globules of metal being spat out from underneath. Bearings were shot.

It got its walking ticket shortly after, and was replaced by a Zanussi IZ16S. The Zanussi stayed put in the footprint, never did the mad leap/glass-scoring exercise, and generally seemed to me to be the better machine.

 

[suds]

Adore my AEG's

Hi Eriksp - welcome on board - it was this site/forum that helped me make my choice to buy AEG Laundry sets.

First set in 2012 when the Protex range was launched and then again in 2018 I upgraded to the same set which had since had some updates and the new range which now run side by side. I like the recirculation jets, load sensing, effortless load balancing and good looks. Am very very pleased with them - maybe not as sturdy as their earlier version but they are clever and do a brilliant job!

have the TOL Protex washer dryer set and then 8000 dryer with steam option and 9000 Softwater with touch screen.

 

[stricklybojack]

.
I just noticed my 7000 series lavamat has a brake.
The drum was starting to coast down from spin then it quickly slowed and stopped.
Dang…new to me.

Back to your regularly scheduled program…[this post was last edited: 9/24/2021-05:43]

 

[stevefromsydney]

Agree with Suds...

Love my AEG's. I've had the 9000 software with touchscreen and matching dryer since 2018 and before that the L9 Protex washer and matching dryer that I bought in 2011/12 and are still going strong in a rental I have.

Quiet, never faff on distribution ( apart from when I washed two feather pillows on their own) and everything comes out washed and rinsed really well. Love being able to add up to 3 extra rinses if needed and do notice a difference in less creasing and colour loss with the softwater system.

Time saver is great. I let the machine decide on times etc for towels and bedding but clothing I usually only wear once for a few hours so they are never remotely soiled. I usually press the time save twice on the cottons programme and its done in 58 mins.

Not sure if the 7000 series has the stains option/button but really does add an interesting drum action. long tumbles ( about 45 seconds) with variable speeds from very slow to distribution speed, very short pause and then back off again. Fantastic for stained dish clothes and white socks etc.

And yes, the brake is used to coast the drum down from spin after wash and during the rinses.

Hope you continue to enjoy the machine.